On October 26, 2003 disaster strikes the Crest community. The Cedar Fire, a human-caused wildfire driven by Santa Ana winds, resulted in the largest fire recorded in California history. In San Diego County, some 280,000 acres burned, 15 people died, and 2,232 homes were lost. The Crest statistics were grim. Of Crest’s 1,100 plus homes, 290 homes were lost.  There were 327 displaced families. Twenty-seven families were uninsured and many more were underinsured.

Betty Lucas, editor of The Crest Sun, wrote the following regarding the Cedar Fire:

Early on that Sunday morning, smoke was visible from the fire that started in the Ramona area. It spread to Scripps Ranch area, and many of us thought it was far away. We watched the news, and as the sky darkened, we became concerned. We conferred with neighbors and started packing our cars with what was important to us. Or, we thought, we will only be gone for a few hours and packed very little. Horses and house pets were gathered. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. neighbors with motorhomes and cars or trucks towing boats paraded by. There was a steady stream of traffic, two lanes, going down the hill backed up as far as St. Louise Church. It took about an hour, more in some cases, to get ‘down the hill.’ Some people stayed, foolish or brave? You decide; they worked with garden hoses or water trucks that they used in their businesses and fought to save neighbors’ houses. Our house was one of them.

In the late afternoon, Crest was on fire. Those of us leaving the hill moved in with family and friends or went from motel to motel looking for a place to stay. Some went to shelters. We watched anxiously while the fire moved from the east to the south then the west side of the mountain.

Monday morning, we were scrambling for news of our homes and our friends. Some people came up through trails; others tried to get up La Cresta Road but were turned back by sheriffs and CHP officers. The air was smoky and full of falling ashes. We were advised to wear masks to protect our lungs. Cell phone contact with people that we knew were on the hill gave reports of houses saved and houses burned. On Tuesday morning, when it was announced that La Cresta Road was opened to residents, there was a caravan of anxious people returning to homes or no homes. What we saw for the first time was destruction. Whole streets of houses were reduced to ashes.

Father Robert Irwin, pastor of St. Louise Church, while staying in a motel in El Cajon, had been busy contacting people and organizations and by Tuesday afternoon, had a relief area set up at the Parish Hall. They brought in hot meals and grief counselors to talk to residents. Shadow Mountain Church appeared within a day to provide clothing to those who lost homes. Crest Elementary School and Community Church were distribution centers for donated items. Within days dozens of agencies were on hand to lend a helping hand.

The rebuilding process was incredibly emotional, complicated, and slow. Over 180 children immediately disappeared from the Crest School rosters having to relocate with their families to other communities.

Crest Resource Center 2003-2006

A double-wide trailer was set up in Nancy Jane Park to act as a resource recovery center for the community after the fire. Many groups stepped up to assist the Crest community. Linda Chase, director for the community’s reconstruction, Jackie Grace, and many other volunteers ran the center daily to help the burn victims through the complicated and painful process of rebuilding. A large portion of the community was found to be underinsured. Organizations utilizing the building included the Crest Community Association, Friends of Crest, the Sub-Regional Planning Group, Kiwanis, the San Diego County Firestorm Recovery Team, the Christian Reform World Relief Committee (volunteers rebuilding houses with volunteer labor), San Diego Youth and Community Services, and the Salvation Army, to name a few. The Crest Coordinating Committee for Fire Recovery was the driving force behind Crest’s progress. Local citizens and survivors created this organization and in so doing, took control of the community’s future.

October 2004 – A year after the fire, a gathering was held in Nancy Jane Park. About 300 people attended to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of the past, to listen to music, and to break ground on a new community center. At this point, 23 of the 290 homes (out of Crest’s 1000 homes) lost to the blaze had been rebuilt. An additional 147 of the homes destroyed in the fire were in some stage of rebuilding. The event was a celebration of the community’s determined spirit. One resident shared, “Most of the town’s residents have helped in some way with the rebuilding efforts. A tighter sense of community is seen in the already close-knit town.”

Crest Fire Safe Council established in 2003

In the months and years following the Cedar Fire, the community sought solutions to prevent another catastrophic event. The Crest Fire Safe Council (CFSC) was established by Noelle Carranza, Debbie Milligan-Fox, Kathleen Fiedor, and Kandhy Franklin-Collins. Under the diligent leadership and guidance of Kandhy, efforts continued to find solutions to future fire threats. Surveys were conducted, town hall meetings held, and break-out groups were formed. Solutions included:

• The implementation of a community-wide emergency call system was established as well as an email notification system.
• A USDA Forest Service grant of $208,000 in 2008 to be used for education outreach, training sessions and, most importantly, fuel reduction. Crest Fire Safe Council contracted with Environmental Land Management which brought hand crews, machinery, and several hundred goats to Crest to provide fuel reduction in strategic areas of the community.
• Educating the community about preparing for emergencies, creating defensible space around homes, evacuation routes, and emergency shelter locations.

Crest Kiwanis Established in 2003

Born from the ashes of the Cedar Fire, Crest Kiwanis formed so that it could be of service to our community. Many of the members lost their homes, and Kiwanis offered mutual support and focus for rebuilding our community. Today the Crest Kiwanis continues to support the community schools by raising money through monthly breakfasts and other fundraising activities.